Apparatus for making animated motion pictures



April 7 1942- G. MUSAPHIA 12,279,241

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED MOTION PICTURES Filed Sept. 21, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIIIIIII VIII/IIA April 7, I G, MUsAPHlA 2,279,241

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED MOTION PICTURES Filed Sept. 2l., 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 7, 1942 APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIIKATED MOTION PICTURES Georges Musaphia, Los Angeles, Calif. Application september 21, 193s, serial No. 231,029

(cl. ss-iei 8 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for making motion pictures by creating an animated image of an inanimate gure and photographing said image.

An object of this invention is to provide for the making of animated motion pictures at an appreciable saving in time and costs, thru the instrumentality of a motion picture camera, a screen for revealing an animated image of an inanimate iigure disposed behind the screen, a light behind the'gure, a means for effecting relative movement of the camera, the figure, and the v light whereby to produce an animated image on the screen, a means of operative connection between the camera, the gure, and screen for -maintaining thev camera and screen in predetermined positions, and adjusting means operable for varying the positions of the camera and figure with respect to one another and the screen for varying and regulating the animated effects.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of, the character described wherein the camera and display figure are respectively on opposite sides of the screen which is to display the image of the iigure and are connected for simultaneous bodily movement or for movement relative to one another whereby various animated ef-v fects may be produced.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described Awherein a rotary carrier may be provided for moving a iigure between the camera and source of light with the screen interposed between the carrier and the camera and wherein provision is made for moving the camera in a circular path around the screen while maintaining the proper focus for photographing images displayed on the latter, all for the purpose of creating a variety of animated effects with the apparatus hereof.

I have shown in the, accompanying drawings a 'preferred form of my invention, subject, how- Fig. 5 represents an enlarged fragmentary, schematic perspective view illustrative of the principles of operation and animated effects.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are schematic perspective views illustrative of the manner in which certain animated effects, such as the passing of a figure across the film, are obtained.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a modiied form of support for the iigure to be animated, showing means for raising and lowering said gure.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of another modified form of figure and supporting means wherein the figure is pivoted on the supporting means.

The method of using the apparatus of this inf' vention consists in creating upon a screen-an animated image of an inanimate iigure or object by means of directing light rays onto the iigure and screen and either moving a motion picture camera with respect to the image on the screen while photographing the latter, or moving the screen, or moving the figure, or various combinations of all or .any such movements. One way of carrying out this method takes into consideration the mounting of a motion picture camera and a figure, the image of which is to be photographed, so that when a screen is interposed at the proper position between the ilgure and the camera, and light rays from a suitable source are directed from behind the iigure and screen so as to produce on the latter an image of the ligure, the screen image will be animated upon movement of the figure and camera with respect to the screen and the iight. Variations of this method may include moving o the camera and figure as one toward and away from the screen or transversely thereof or may take into account the moving of the figure toward and away from the screen into and out of focus or likewise moving the camera into and out of focus. Preferably, the iigure is translucent and may or may not be colored or treated with fluorescent material so as to iiuoresce under excitation of light rays of proper wave length. It may also have portions offset from the plane of the remainder to enhance the animation effect. At any rate. the use of a translucent or light penetrable figure between a source of light and a light penetrable or translucent screen will bring about the projection of the image of the iigure on the screen without shadow effects, and as long as relative movement takes place between the iigure and light or the figure and camera various animated eifects may be created and thereby continuously or trees, and the figure may simulate a bird so that relative movement of the figure and screen or movement of the camera and figure relative to the screen will produce unique and realistic animated eiects` Moreover, the movement of the g'ure transversely ci the camera will give the eiect of a bird flying. Again, the figure could be moved up and down to give corresponding animation effects to the image or, ,the camera can be moved to create similareffect.

One form of apparatus as under this invention is shown in detail in the accompanying drawings and generally comprises a cylindrical, rotary, translucent or otherwise light penetrable screen I mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, carriers 2 and 3 for supporting gures i and 5 between the screen and a source of light 6 whereby images of the figures will be displayed upon the screen, amotion picture camera l arranged to photograph the images appearing on the screen, and various means, which will be hereinafter described, for effecting and coordinating the rnove ments and operations of the aforementioned elements and parts. IThe figures i and 5 may have oiset portions li and Ei to enhance the animated As here shown, a suitable base supports a standard il having a dish lil iuied to its upper end. This disk engages a hub portion il from which spokes l2 extend to an annular member lt to which the screen i is iiited. Litho the screen may loe mounted to rotate relative to this standard it is preferably stationarily held, as by means of the pin it.

The carrier 3 is cylindrical and arranged within the coniines of the screen i and is rotatably supported upon the standard t by means oi the structureV it corresponding to the hun il, spokes lil, and annular member it, there being a disk it dried Yon said standard for rotatably support ine; the structure The carrier is made of trans iucent or other light penetrable material and has the fleure ixed to the inner side thereof where by when the carrier moves the figure will liirewise move and an animated image thereof will be displayed upon the screen i. The carrier may loe motor driven or, as shown, arranged for manual manipulation, and no matter how moved will produce an animated image or" the i'lgure or figures supported thereon.

The carrier for the figure El, the camera "l, and the source o light are mounted upon e. carriage lli which is rotatably secured as at UC to the standard u. This carriage so con structed that the light source will be disposed to ward the center of the structure, that is, jacent the standard the figure l will be disposed adjacent the inner face of the carrier 3 and screen l, and the camera l disposed in outwardly spaced relation Ito said screen in position to photograph the images appearing thereon. Consequently, the carriage is in the form ci an arm iii, the inner end of which is secured to the standard as above noted, while the outer end supported by a caster 2li mounted in a blocl; ill. This provides `for moving of the camere., `fleure G, and light G in circular paths with the camera and -iigure on opposite sides of the screen while .maintaining said camera and fleure in predetermined spaced relation to one another whereby the eamera will at ali times be in focus with the image on the screen.

@ne means oi moving the carrier so that movement oi the iigure 5 thereon will correspond to movement of the figure l on the carrier i2, inI 75 be moved toward and awayfrom the screen between the latter and the light source to create variational animated eects, whereas the camera l is mounted upon a support 24 longitudinally adjustably supported upon said arm I! whereby the camera may be moved toward and away from the screen for varying the photographic eifects. Provision is also made for moving the ligure `l land the camera in unison while in predetermined spaced relation to one another wherebythe figure may be moved toward and away from the screen while also moving the camera in the same man'- ner with respect to the screen.

As here shown, an adjusting screw 26 has one end rotatably secured as at 2l to an extension4 2c of the carrier and is slidably supported ou the camera support 24. The other end of this screw is provided with a cranlr 2li. A. clutch bar 3u is pivoted as at 'di upon the support 24 and provided with a screw threaded recess 32 adapted to cooperate with the screw threads of the screw il@ when said arm is swung into a predetermined position in which the deten' 33 will hold said arm 'in engagement with the screw.l Wi'ien thus en caged with the screw the clutch arm effects a loclr so that ii the carriage t is moved the support Ell will. lilrewise be moved, and vice versa. How ever, if the cranl; il@ is rotated while the clutch bar is in operative position and the support M is not otherwise held while the carriage 5i is held against movement, then the support Zbl will be moved in or out with respect to the screen, den pending upon the direction of rotation of the screw.

A similar adjusting screw is rotatably fixed to the carrier and slidabie freely in the hlccir. 2i, there being a cranli arm Sti on its outer end. Operating in conjunction with this screw clutch bar JG corresponding to the one 'fi l". when this bar is in operative contact with the screw 'dll and the iatter is turned, and assumingl the screw it is then freely slidable in the support 226i,

,the carriage 2 may be moved so as to move rieure thereon. To provide for holding the courentl against movement on the arm it) and also afford s means for adjusting the camera, screw ill rotatably fixed as at Sli to the carriera support iid and is slidably supported the block; ill, there heine' a 3Q on cuter end of seid screw. Cooperating with this screw is a ciutclr our tti pivoted on the bloei; 2l and corresponding to the clutch bar Sti. When the clutch bar @t is enfl gagged with the screw Sill the camera support is held against sliding movement on the arm t9. Consequently, if the clutch bar is out of coriau tact with the screw 26 and is tree to move relative to said support, whiie the support 2@ is heid by the screw diend clutch liar All, then the carrier t n to move relative to the camera upon operation oi the screw tft, as aforesaid.

Other adjustments may be provided thru various manipulations of the several screws and clutch bars. The camera may also be vertically adjusted on its support thru manipulation of the means indicated at 4| in Fig. 3. Moreover, the camera is adapted to be moved transversely back and forth by means of a screw 42'and an associated clutch bar 43 pivoted on the support 24.

The camera 1 is affixed to the screw 42 by means of collars 44 andbracket 45. The clutch bar 43 is arranged to cooperate with the screw in the same manner as the other clutch bars. With this arrangement, when the clutch bar 43 is in inoperative position the operator may move the camera freely back and forth, the screw sliding bodily at this time. However, when the clutch bar 43 is in operative position and the screw is turned the camera may be moved uniformly by the action of the screw.

As shown in Fig. 9, a modified form of the invention includes the mounting of a figure 46 upon a support 41 pivoted as at 48 to a carrier 49 which will correspond to the carrier 2. It will be noted that the support 41 is made of transparent material so that no image thereof will be thrown on the screen, and this is likewise true of that part of the support 2 which extends upwardly behind the screen. Upon tilting the support 41 the figure may be moved up wardly and downwardly in an arc. This form of support will be mounted upon the carriage I1,

and associated with the adjusting screws in the same manner as the carrier 2.

In Fig. l0 is shown another form of carrier wherein the object 50 is pivoted as at 5I upon the carrier support 52, which corresponds to the one 41. 'I'his support 52 is adapted to be pivotally supported in the same manner as the one 41 and is also madeof transparent material. The figure will always maintain a horizontal position due to the manner in which it is pivoted.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for making motion pictures comprising a screen, a cameraadapted tobe focused upon one side of thescreen, a figure disposed adjacent'the other side of the screen, a source of light arranged to direct rays onto said figure and screen, means for effecting relative movement of the figure and light for creating on the screen an animated image of said figure in focus with said camera, and means of connection between the camera and figure providing for simultaneous movement thereof relative to said screen.

2. Apparatus for making `motion pictures comprising a screen, a camera adapted to be focused upon one side of the screen, a figure disposed adjacent the other side of the screen and having a portion disposed out ofthe plane of the remainder thereof, a source of light arranged to direct rays onto said figure and screen, a com'- mon means for effecting corresponding movement of the figure, camera and light relative to the screen for creating on the screen an animated image of said figure in focus with said camera,-

and means providing for other movement of the camera relative to the screen.

3.. Apparatus for making motion pictures comprising a screen, a camera adapted to be focused upon one side of the screen, a figure having an offset portion and disposed adjacent the other ment of the figure and light relative to the screen for creating on the screen an animated image of said figure in focus with said camera, and means for moving the figure toward and away from said screen.

4. Apparatus for making motion pictures comprising a screen, a camera adapted to be focused upon one side of the screen, a figure disposed adjacent the other side of the screen and having at least a portion disposed out of the plane of the remainder thereof, a source of light arranged to direct rays onto said figure and screen, a common means for effecting corresponding movement of the figure and light relative to the screen for creating on the screen an animated image of said figure in focus with said camera, and means mounted on said common means for moving said camera and figure simultaneously toward and away from said screen.

5. Apparatus for making motion pictures comprising a screen, a camera adapted to be focused upon one side of the screen, a figure disposed adjacent the other side of the screen and having at least a portion disposed in a plane other than the remainder thereof, a source of light arranged to direct rays onto said figure and screen, a common means for effecting corresponding movement of the gure and light relative to the screen for lcreating on the screen an animated image of said figure in focus with said camera, and means slidable on said'bmmon means and operable for effecting movement of the camera, and figure with respect to the screen. l

6. Apparatus for making motion pictures comprising a cylindrical screen, a figure disposed adjacent the inner side of said screen, a source of light within the screen for directing light rays side of the screen, a source of light arranged to direct rays vonto said gure and screen, and a common means for effecting corresponding moveonto said gure and the portion of the screen adjacent said figure, a camera adapted to be focused upon the outer side of said screen, and means supporting said camera, figure. and source of light for simultaneous circuitous movement with respect to the screen for creating on the latter an animated image of the figure in focus with said camera.

7. Apparatus for making motion pictures comprisinga cylindrical screen, a figure disposed adjacent the inner side of said screen, a source of light within the screen for directing light rays onto said figure and the portion of the screen adjacent said gure, a camera adapted to be focused upon the outer side of said screen, means supporting said camera, figure, and source of light for simultaneous circuitous movement with respect to the screen for creating on the latter an animated image of the figure in focus with said camera.

8. Apparatus for making motionpictures comprising a cylindrical screen, a figure disposed adjacent the inner side of said screen, a source of light within the screen for directing light rays onto said figure and the portion of the screen adjacent said figure, a camera adapted to be focused upon the outer side of said screen, and means supporting said camera, ligure, and source of light for simultaneous circuitous movement with respect to the screen for creating on the latter an animated image of the figure in focus with said camera, and means operable during such movement of said camera, ligure and light for moving either the camera or the figure toward or away from said screen. v

' GEORGES MUSAPHIA. 

